Zebo’s moment of magic a diamond in the rough for Munster

Munster 23 - Ospreys 3: Sometimes it takes a little magic to make a difference and when Munster needed it most, their backline delivered to keep alive hopes of a first trophy in six seasons.

This Guinness PRO12 semi-final at Thomond Park had been a humdrum affair before the stardust was sprinkled on the hour mark that would break Ospreys’ resistance and put the home side within 80 minutes of the silverware that would be a fitting climax to a remarkable and emotional campaign.

Of course fellow finalists Scarlets, the destroyers of Leinster hopes Friday night at the RDS, will have something to say about that at Aviva Stadium next weekend but for a province that looked lost at sea 12 months ago having scraped into the top six of the PRO12 on the last day of last season, reaching the Champions Cup semi-final and the PRO12 final this time around has been nothing short of miraculous.